Modulating valve



March 13, 1928.

W. W. BIRNSTOCK MODULATING VALVE Filed April 25. 1927 I @uw ufoz @www l /nozncu Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES f' y .PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. BIRNSTOCK, 0F YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO VAPOR HEATING COMPANY, 0F YORK, PENNSYLVANIA,

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MODULATING VALVE.

kApplication led April 23, 1927. Serial No. 186,117.

The present invention relates to improvements in valves, and more especiallyr to those of the type adapted for Vuse in vapor or steam heating systems for modulating the supply of vapor or steam to the radiators or other heating units.

The principal object is to provide a valve of this type which comprises valve and seat members which constitute a unit capable. of being bodily removed from the valve easing for repair or replacement, the valve stem is provided With a joint-forming collar to prevent leakage of vapor or steam along the stem trom the interior of the casing, and a member fitted into the valve cap bears on the collar on the stem to form a fluid-tight joint therewith and also acts on the seat member to force it on to and to hold it in fluid-tight engagementwith the seat in the casing. The improved valve thus possesses the advantages derived from the use of removable valve and seat members and it avoids the objections incident to the use of a stutling box for the valve stem, and the Isame part which forms a leakless joint around the stem serves to :torce the seat member against its seat in the casing and to hold it in such position, therebysimplifying and improving the construction of the valve.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement of the valve and seat members whereby modulation ot the flow of vapor or steam and tight closing ot the valve, even When steam ata considerable pressure is used, may be attained With ease and facility, and sticking of the valve member, due to corrosion of the valve and seat members, is avoided, notwithstanding that the valve may beop erated or adjusted infrequently.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the valve and seat members and the threaded portions of the stem and valve members which cooperate to open and close the valve, whereby compactness is attained.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter described in detail, the features ot novelty being pointed out perticularly in the claims at the end o't' the specification.

In the accompanying drawing `other heating units.

accompanying drawing Fig. l represents a section taken axially through a modulating valve constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve being shown Open;

Fig. 2 isa view similar to Fig. li but showing the valve closed; Y y

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but showing the valve partly open to modulate thetlow of vapor ory steam;

Fig. l represents `a i transverse sectio through the valve, the section being taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig 5 isa collective'view showing the cooperative valve and seat members in perspective. y Similar parts are designated by the `same reference characters in all of the iigures.

Valves embodying the present invention are applicable to various uses Where it is desired to modulate closely the How of a Huid or to lcompletelyinterrupt the tlovv.y The invention, however is particularly applicable to vvapor or steam heating systems for the purpose ot' regulating or controlling the supply ot` vapor or steam to the radiators or The valve` provided by the present invention is adapted to be used in eitlier vapor heating systems or systems usmg steam at an appreciable pressure, as the valve is capable not only of modulating the flow of the heating fluid but it is also capable of cutting on1 completely the flow `of steam although the latter may be under a considerable pressure, and when so used, the valve avoids loss ot" heat which would other- Wise result when it isdesired tocut off the heat from a radiator. The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the and Will be herein-k after more fully described, but it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown as equivalent construction are contemplated and such Will be included Withinthe scopev of, the claims. p

In the present instance, the valve comprises a casing l Which forms a chamber 2 therein, and branch passages 3 and 4, the top of the chamber 2- being closed by a cap 5 which isthreaded or otherwise removably fitted to the top of the casing. The valve shown is of the type adapted forV use on the radiator ot' a vapor or steam heating sys-` tem, for which purpose, the passage 3 is lit) arranged vertically and is threaded or otherwise adapted for connection to the vapor or steam supply pipe while the passage It extends laterally or horizontally and is threaded or otherwise adapted for connection to the radiator.

The valve structure is contained substantially within the chamber 2 in the casing, and it comprises, according to the present invention, a seat member 6 and a cooperat ing valve member 7. The seat member is formed with an interior cylindrical chamber 8 and the valve member is formed with a cooperating cylindrical sleeve-like portion 9 capable ot telescoping within the valve member and moving axially therein during opening, closing and adjusting et the valve. The wall of the .seat member is provided with a suitable number ot ports l() which establish communication between the interior chamber ot this member and the exterior thereof or the chamber Q in the valve casing. and these'ports are adapted to be either lapped completely and thus closed by the telcscoping sleeve-lilre portion 9 ot' the valve member, as shown in Fig. 2 or completely uncovered by the valve member and thus completely opened. as shown in Fig. l, or these ports may be partially lapped, more or less, by the upper edge ot the valve mem ber, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the tlow ot vapor or steam through these ports is modulated. The partial or complete opening or closing et the ports 10 it will be understood, is effected by adjustment oil the axial position of the cylindrical sleeve 9 ot the valve member within the cylindrical chamber ot the scat member. The valve men'iber T is also termed with an interior chamber ll and with ports 12 which extend through the wall et the sleeve 9 and communicate with the chamber l1. These ports 1Q are arranged so that they will be covered and uncovered by the lower end of the cylindrical interior portion ot the seat member concurrently with the opening and closing et the ports 10, during axial movements ot the valve member relatively to the seat member. The vapor or steam thus reaches the interior chambers of the valve and seat members through the ports 'l2 and discharges therefrom through the ports 10.

In order to avoid the difiiculties resulting` from sticking ot the valve and seat mem bers as heretofore experienced in modulating valves. due to corrosion et these parts the sleeve-like cylindrical portion 9 of the valve member is titted sufficiently loosely in the cylindrical chamber 8 ot the seat member to allow movement of the valve member notwithstanding corrosion that may form on these cooperating surfaces, but the it of these parts will be sui'licicntly close to avoid appreciable leakage between them so that. the ports l0 and 1:2 will function to modulate the flow ot vapor or steam, as desired. For practical purposes, a clearance of 1 or 2 hundredths ol an inch between the cooperating cylindrical surfaces ot the valve and seat members will be satisfactory. -llowever, in order to effectively close the valve and especially when used in a .steam heating system wherein the steam is at an appreciable pressure above atmospheric, tightv closing surfaces are provided wh1ch are brought into engagement when the valve member reaches its tully closed position. In the present instance, a conical valve surface 13 is provided on the valve member, it projecting circun'iterentially trom the base or lower end ot the cylindri al surface 9 there on, and the seat member (3 is formed with a corresponding conical surface or scat l-L which extends outwardly from the lower end ot the cylindrical bore in the .seat member. lllhen the valve is moved into its uppermost position to completely lap and close the modulating ports lll and l2, as shown in Fig.

2. the conical valve surface 12% comes into engagement with the conical scat l-l and thereby citects a tight closing of the valve, the valve being then capable ot' withstandin;r .steam pressure without leakage ot steam therefrom to the radiator. llt will be understood (hat when thc. valve member is moved to or toward open position. the conical valve .surface 13 reccdcs from the conical seat lil, thus prigividing a passmreway between these conical surfaces through which the vapor or steam may l'low lo and cuter the ports` l2. as will be clear l'rom Figs. l and The scat member (i is reinovably tilted into the valve casing and is contained in the chamber Q therein. .i\ccordin, to thc pri-sent invention, the lower outer circular edge ol the scat member is formed with a conical surface l5 the angle of which is the reverse of that ot the conical scat il. and the valvc casing` is termed. at the bottom ol' the chamher Q, with a conical seat lt' which conforms with and maltcs a fluid-tight lit tilnircwith. rl`he opening o in the top of the casing and which is norn'lally closed by the cap is of a diana-ter somewhat Areater than that ol the conical portion lo or the portion ol' the seat.. member which is ol' the greatest diame ter so that the scat member may be inserted and rei'noved through this opening. This construction enables the conical surfaces' lo and iti to be ground or lapped one against the other in a manner which will be well understood. thus enabling; an ell'ective lluidtight joint to he formed.

The valve member is shifted axially wilhin the .seat member to open or close or adjust the valve openingy by a rotatable slr-m l? which extends downwardly through the cap 5 and the seat member (l and has a threaded lower end 1S which engages in a correspomlingly threaded .sleeve 19 which is tin lll!) lili is accommodated .in the branch passage 3 of i the valve casing, the location of this threaded sleeve and the co-operating threaded portion of the valve stem at this point resulting in a more compact structure than is the case where the operating thread on the stem is located above the valve member or on the upper `portion of the stem. It will be understood that the threaded portion ot the stem and the correspondingly threaded portion of the valve arc such that rotation of the stem while held against axial movement will cause axial movement of the valve member relatively to the seat member. The threaded construction is preferably so proportioned that a halt revolution of the valve stem will serve to completely open or completely close thevalve. Rotation ot the stem ina direction to close the valve will be arrested by the engagement of the conical valve seat 13 with the conical surface 14, and rotation of the valve stem in a direction to open the valve may be `arrested by the engagement of the valve member 7 with lugs or similar portions 21 within the valve casing and below the conical surface 13 thereon. The valve member is held trom rotation under the influence of the rotation of the valve stem by a pin 22 which may be threaded or otherwise ixed in the valve member 7 and guided to move axially by a slot 23 in the seat member 6, the pin reciprocating axially in the slot 23 but being held from rotation thereby. Furthermore, rotation of the seat member 6 within the valve casing is prevented by forming the casing with a pair of ribs 24 which` extend vertically or axially within the chamber 2 and provide a channel or groove 25 between them in which the outer end of the pin 22 may reciprocate vertically in unison with the opening and closing movements of the valve member. Vhen the conical surface 15 ot' the seat member is to be ground or lapped against the conical seating surface 16 in the casing, the pin 22 may be unscrewed or. otherwise removed from the valve member, and the seat member may then be rotated and otherwise manipulated within; the valve casing as the lapping or grinding operation may require. While the pin 22 is fixed in place, it unites the valve,

and seat members as a'unit which may be bodily inserted into or removed from the casing together with the stem.

Thestem has a relatively close rotatable t in the top of the seat member 6, it being provided in the present instance with a cylindrical enlargement 26 which fits closely within a tubular extension 27 on the top The stem is provided of the: seat member. with a collar 28 which is fixed thereon and is arranged immediately above the seat mem'- ber so that it will bear at itsunder side on the top oi the tubular extension 27. Pret'- erably, the upper end of the tubular eXtension 27 is formed with a circular recess 29` into which the lower portion of the collar tits. The upper-side ot the collar 28 is formed preferably with a conical surface 30, andra bushing 31 is threaded into and through the cap 5 and has a conical surface 32 y thereon which conforms with andk is adapted to make a luid-tight titwith the conical surface 30 on the collar on the stem. The lower `end of the bushing surrounding the collar 28 on the stemV is adapted to bear on the upper end of the tubular extension 27 ot' the seat member exteriorlyot' the circular recess 29, so that when the bushing is screwed down in the cap, it forces the s eat member solidly into fluid-tight engagement with the conical seat 16 in the casing and at the same time forms a tluid-tightjoint with the upper surface ofthe collar ou the stem so that leakage of vapor or steam along the stem is prevented. `The Vbushing will act to prevent upward displacement of the stem, and the bearing otl the collar 28 on the top of the seat member will prevent downward displacement of the stem. Axial displacement ot' the stem in either direction is thereby prevented. While the bushing 31 when tightened forms a fluidtight joint with the collar on the valve stem, undue pressure of the bushing against the collar, which would render diiicult or would prevent rotation of the stem, is prevented by the en gagement of the vlower end ot the bushing with the upper end of the tubular extension on theseat member, the' latter thus' serving as a stop which` properly limitsthe rpressure exerted by the bushingon the collar. The stem has fixed thereto above the bushing a handle 33 which servesas means for rotating the stem to open and close and adjust the valve to rmodulate the iiow ot vapor or steamtherethrough. This handle is removable so that the bushing 31 may bek detached from the stem or lapped or ground against the conical joint forming surface on the collar on the stem. i

Unscrewing of the cap 5 will permit re.- moval `of all of the operative parts of the valve from the casing, and unscrewing of the stem from the threaded portion 19 ot' the valve member-.7 enables the valve stem together with the cap to be detached from' the valve and seat members. lVhile the part-sare removed from the casing, the conical surfaces 13 seat members may be ground or.v lapped against one another, during which .opera-f tion, the'pin`22-is removed, and as previously stated, the seat member may be ground,y

the pin 22 is or lapped inthe casing while removed. After the parts have been assem- `andl'tv of the valve and' llfi bled and the cap has been applied and tightened solidly in the easing. tightening of the bushing- 3l performs the dual 'function ot: forcing the seatr member G to its seat iu the casing and olE forming a iluidtight tit with the collar on the stem. TVhile the parts are held in this condition, endwise displacement ot' the stem is prevented, and rotation of the .stem in the appropriate di reetion and to a suitable extent will open7 close or adjust the valve as may1 be desired.

By avoiding the use of a stalling box and constructing the valve and valve seat` members .so that they have sullieient clearance to avoid sticking together ot these parts when corroded, a valve provided which is always in condition 'tor operation. notwithstanding that the valve may be operated or adjusted only at infrequent intervals. The removable construction oi the parts enables them to be reground or retitted with ease and facility. and the combination and ar rangement: whereby a single bushingr serves to YForm a fluid-tight joint with the collar on the stem and to hold the valve seat member against. its seat in the casing; simplilies and improves the valve and 'facilitates its` assembly and maintenance.

l claim as my invention l. A valve comprisingA a casing. r valve scat member adapted to seat therein. a valve member cool'ierative with the seat member. a rotatable actuating stein for the valve member havin;r a collar thereon. and an element operative to seat the seat member in the. casing and to torni a liuiild'ihty joint'y with the collar on the stem.

A' valve comprisingy a casing having a :feat therein. a valve seat member adapted to engage said seatin the casing, a valve member cooperative with said seat member, a rotatable stem having a thread connection with the valve member andalso havingf a collar fixed thereon and arranged to abut; against said seaty member. and an element operative to `l'orm a lluid tight joint; with said collar on the stem and to hold the seat member against its seat in the. casing,

il. A valve comprising a casingT having4 a seat therein. a valve seat member adapted to engage said seat in the easing. a valve member for cooperatingY with said seat member.` a rotatable actuating stem for the valve member havin;l a lixed cireumferential collar thereon, and a bushing surrounding the stem and adjustable axially thereo't to engage and form a {iuid-tifht, joint with said collar and to bear ou tue seat member to hold it on its seat in the casing.

4. A valve comprising a casing having' a eeat therein and an opening opposite to and ol a diameter at` leasty as large as said seat., a scat member capable of insertion and removal through said opening and adapted to engage, said seat in the casing, a valve member emperativc with the seat member, a cap separate from the seat member and fitted to the casinfbr to close said opening therein, a rotatable actuatingstein for the valve member, extending through the cap and having a iixed collar thereon, and a bushingr threaded in the cap and engaging the collar on the stem to form a fluid'tight joint therewith and bearing on said seat member to hold it against" its seat in the easing.

A valve comprising a easing having angnlarly arranged fluid passages therein, a valve seat member adapted to communicate axially with one of said passages and laterally with the other passage, a valve member movable axially with respect to said seat member. and having' a threaded portion thereon which extends axially toward one ol said fluid passages. and a valve stem extending into the portion oi the easing opposite to said last-mentioned fluid passage and eneag'inpr said threaded portion of the valve member i'or actuating it.

A valve comprising a casing and cooj'ierative cylindrical valve scat and valve members fitted loosely one within the other and relatively movable axially, said mem bers having conical valve surfaces which are brought into engagsrementy when said members are moved in one direction, the inner member having fluid eomluctinpr ports ar ranged therein adjacent to the conical valve surface thereon whereby said ports will be uncovered when the conical valve surfaces are separated, and modulating' ports in one olt said members arranged to be lapped and controlled by the other member during relative axial movements oit' said meml'iers.

'7. A valve comprising a casing having a scat` therein and an opening opposite to and of a diai'neter at least as large as said seat, a valve seat: member capable of' insertion and removal through said ol'iening and hav ing a portion adapted to form a fluid-tightJ joint with said seat in the casing, a valve member cooperative, with and movable axially with respect to said seat member, said valve member having a threaded portion therein, a cap litted in the casing and closing said ojiieniingr therein, a rotatable stem extendingr through the cap and having a threaded portion which engages said threaded portion oi the valve member to aetuat'e the latter and having a collar fixed thereon above and beariner on the valve seat member, and a bushingr on the stem threaded in the cap and movable axially of the. stem to engage and form a {luid-tight joint with Jthe collar thereon and to hold said eollar against. the valve seat member.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

wILLjAM w, BmNsToCK. f 

